Hoyer Named Starting QB [Benched Week 2 - Mallett to Start]
 

Guess Hoyer is starting us off. We'll see how long it lasts. My guess is Week 6.

Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli 2m2 minutes ago
The #Texans have chosen Brian Hoyer as the team's starter, as @RapSheet first reported. Hoyer had the lead going into training camp.

I gotta think that was the plan all along from the day he was signed. It's Fitzy vers. 2.0.

Oh well, I'll be rooting for him to succeed but my expectations aren't very high...

I don't disagree with it but it is disappointing that Mallet could not beat him out. Mallett has been here over a year now and can't beat out a journeyman like Hoyer. This means we have no real QB on our roster. We can keep fighting to scratch out 9 wins while wasting JJ Watt's prime.

Yep. I see our biggest issue is we won't likely suck bad enough again to get in the #1-5 spot, so we'll have to pay a Kings ransom in order to get up there, or we'll keep playing the QB carousel until we finally suck bad enough to get up there, then hope there is a QB coming out that is worthy.

Damn, Indy got lucky......

Word. At least when they got Manning, they had wandered through the desert for awhile. This time, it was just like reloading.

If I'm the GM/HC and I have 2 or 3 scrub QB's on my roster that I know are not the long-term answer, which it appears the Texans have right now, I'm on the phone with Philly or Tampa trying to get Barkley or Glennon as cheaply as possible. Sure, I might find they're not be the answer either, but I'm not giving up trying to find lightning in a bottle. If I can get one of them with a lower round or conditional pick (which I guarantee you can get Barkley for), I'm pulling the trigger.

Am i the only one that likes what he is seeing in Savage? Not to start now, but maybe in the future?

No, you are not the only one. He is still raw and he still seems overwhelmed by the game at times (and he's facing twos and threes) but he is so much better than last year that perhaps there is real hope. And maybe that is what BOB is thinking, too.

It is indeed very disappointing that Mallett and his huge arm couldn't beat out Hoyer. But if I'm honest with myself Hoyer has looked much better than Mallett in these two fake games. And that is sad, but to me inescapably true.

And, walk on the sunny side kind of guy that I am, the few times I saw Hoyer last year he looked pretty damn good. I could never understand all the carping coming from Cleveland because I thought Hoyer was doing the job just fine. So who knows?

I want nothing to do with Barkley or Glennon. Both are terrible. I'd be after Mettenberger if I was after any young backup.

I like Savage, but think he has a chance to grow into Mallett/Hoyer/Fitz. Nothing makes me think he has a chance to be more.

As long as we put band-aids on QBs we will never be relevant in January. Delaying years to do it is a real head scratcher.

I like O'Brien and think he is probably a pretty good coach. But right now he's failing his most important job requirement of finding a long term QB. Maybe he was a victim of circumstances and never had an opportunity to snag a decent signal caller but right now, I don't see how we can reasonably expect to get decent QB before 2017 at the earliest. This year will be another caretaker year just like last year. Maybe we'll finally use a meaningful draft pick next year, but even if we do (and the kid pans out), it'll be a year or so before you can expect him to truly compete. Pretty depressing.

That person doubled over in laughter over there is J.J. Watt.

I'd rather JJ laugh than cry over a HOF wasted career on an also ran.

Let's pause for a moment and remember who was in the Super Bowl last year and how they got their starting quarterbacks. Did either draft them in the first round? No. The year before, did either Super Bowl team draft their quarterback in the first round? No. The year before that, did either Super Bowl team draft their quarterback in the first round? Yes, one did but the other didn't.

We've had three chances to take a QB at 1/1. In 2002, we took him and got a guy that will never be a championship quarterback. In 2006, we passed up Vince Young and Matt Leinart (and Jay Cutler) for a guy that's no longer with the team. Last year, we passed up Bridgewater, Bortles and Manziel for someone we hope will finally showcase his once-ridiculous talent.

And what of the teams that took Cam Newton, Jamarcus Russell, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, Alex Smith....any rings?

The guys we have here now know defense wins championships and they're going all in on defense. Yeah, it sucks to have mediocre talent at QB but you can win in the NFL with that until the right QB for the system comes along. And you can get that right guy in trade, or the second round or free agency. In the meantime, we're building a lights-out defense if all the pieces come together.

I'm not giving up this season. We've got a ridiculously easy schedule and we can still be better than .500 if we just beat the teams we should and pull an upset or two. We probably won't get over on the Colts but we can be a playoff team in Year Two with the talent we have if things break right.

Nobody said anything about a 1st round QB. If we have a Tom Brady or a Russel Wilson I'll take it no matter what round they were drafted in. But Mallet is entering year 5 and Hoyer is entering year 7. Wilson and Brady were low draft picks but both were Super Bowl champs and Pro Bowlers by year 5. Hoyer and Mallett are what they are and the existence of two great QBs not taken in round 1 doesn't change that.

Joshua is hinting we'll be too good to draft a premier QB until 2017 at the soonest.

I'd be all for Mettenberger as he's shown more (to me at least) than Barkley and Glennon and I think he's better than Mallett and Savage, and will be better than Hoyer - if not already. I didn't throw his name out there because I don't think the Titans would even consider trading him to us, and if they did considered it, the price would be higher for us than other teams since we're in the same division and the risk would be huge for them. It would be higher than I'd want to spend. I'd still be willing to take a shot with Barkley or Glennon if the price is low. We seem to burn late round picks anyway so why not take a chance?

That makes sense. I still wouldn't touch Barkley. His stock/play has gone downhill every year since his freshman year of college. He is about to lose the 3rd string battle to Tebow and get cut.

Glennon has shown hoyer-like flashes of competence. But I don't trade for a guy with almost no chance to be better than the two guys I already have. I like savage's potential far more than those two.

As for acquiring a QB, I feel like we need to either invest heavily (high pick, rare FA, Big trade), or we need to be buying more lottery tickets. But entering a season with 3 guys whose ceilings don't exceed serviceable seems dumb.

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that all we've tried with the QB position are retreads (Fitz, Hoyer) and extremely low probability gambles (Mallett, Savage, etc.). The position is too important to basically hope for a miracle, which is all that we've done for the last 2 years. Instead, we used the first pick of the 2nd round on XSF, who plays arguably the lowest position of value on the football field and will make virtually no impact on the win total even if he pans out (which right now does not look good).


My point about 2017 was that, even if we spend a high draft pick next year (1st or 2nd round), he'll still be a rookie in 2016 so you can't expect too much from him. Thus, I don't see any reasonable way we can expect quality QB play any earlier than 2017.

So I was thinking all three , Hoyer, Mallett, Savage were having a reasonable showing so far. Not disappointing at all. It is only the second preseason game.

I thought Hoyer not better than Mallett or Savage, but more experience so he starts for now.

And Mallett and Savage both still young with plenty upside to grow.

I suppose time will tell.

As far as early draft, if you don't yet have your oline, WR, RB, then your qb not matter how good will get killed.

Maybe we could have drafted a qb early last year, hindsight will tell in a couple of years.

Mallet is not at practice today because of "personal reasons" according to O'Brien. Who knows what that means, but he was clearly upset the other day when he was named the backup and not starting QB.

PDS ‏@PatDStat 26m26 minutes ago
Ryan Mallett showed up late to practice today. Was sent home by O’Brien is expected back to practice tomorrow. #Texans

Starting to wonder a little about OB. He's doing some really good things for the team but he may need to work on his people skills a bit..... Today reminded me of that semi-famous spat he got into with Brady a few years back...



What's interesting in the video is Hoyer (in parka) jumps in between them....

Also, Aaron Hernandez make an appearance....

He's an ego maniac. Which is fine if he wins. When they start losing, he'll get run out of choir boy town.

If this team needed anything (other than a QB) it is someone who is rough around the edges and has the balls to stand up to players, coaches, and yes, hopefully the GM and owner when necessary. I can't imagine Kubiak ruffled too many feathers at Kirby.

Agreed and I think that's what our team of "good-boys" needs (although I would balk at getting in the owner's face neck burnin', jaws-a-flappin'). Being a super-alpha head coach is not a requirement to be successful and there's a long list of smart, somewhat passive but successful head coaches.

At this point in time, OB is just what the doctor ordered. I think the problem comes when a coach crosses over into tyranny. And a tyrant perceived to be making poor decisions usually doesn't last very long.... (see Caesar, Caligula, Nero, etc.)

I'm hoping that Mallett being late to practice was an honest screw up and not him pouting because he only needs to remember back a year to realize he'll probably get a chance this season.

I don't see O'Brien as an egomaniac. For example, when talking about the draft he's always very deferential to Rick Smith, even though I suspect that O'Brien has a lot of say in the draft room. Compare that to how a true egomaniac like Jerry Jones operates. By the way, O'Brien's explanation of that video was that Brady had just thrown a pick and was chewing out a receiver they'd signed just a few days before for running a bad route. He said that while the route wasn't great, Brady threw a bad pass and O'Brien didn't like Brady bitching and not taking responsibility. Both Brady and O'Brien said afterwards it was no big deal and they have a good relationship.

As far as the future at QB, one name to keep in mind for next year is Drew Brees. The Saints are in terrible cap shape and after this year cutting or trading him would save them more than it would cost in dead money. He's a staunch union guy so he's unlikely to take a pay cut to stay, especially on a team that will probably be in rebuilding mode. He's not exactly a youngster but if the Texans think they're a QB away they'd have to consider it.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet · 14m14 minutes ago
Sources: #Texans are poised to make a quarterback change. They are preparing to play with QB Ryan Mallett as their starter vs. the #Panthers
Per Rapaports Twitter

Yay! If true, once and for all, give the guy some time (several games) to show what he's got.....

I'm actually kinda surprised at the move. Not saying that's not what I wanted to see, but I am surprised he pulled the trigger this quick. I had week 6 in our office pool.....dammit. :rolleyes:

Hope the kid does decent, and we don't have this go back and forth all season.

I'm surprised to, I'm surprised for the second time in 4 days ! O'Brien is looking very confused, indecisive, and inept on this whole QB shuffle deal.

Who cares about the why's, how's or appearance of it? We finally get someone that is young and at least has an unknown quality about him. We all know Hoyer sucks. I'm actually glad OB has the nads to pull the trigger despite eating crow over it in the media. And by all appearances he just swapped out our PR/KR too. And honestly, it won't shock me if a quick change is made at RB on Sunday. Now can we do something about Fat Randy???

BTW, I think if Foster were healthy, OB might have waited a little longer to make this move. Foster would have covered up some of Hoyer's flaws. Maybe OB thought coming out of camp that Blue and the running game would be a little better than it has been and he just came to the conclusion that the quicker gun and bigger arm is what they need to give them a chance at W's before the season is lost by Week4 with Hoyer at the helm and without Foster. Maybe I'm wrong here, but it looks to me the offensive pace is faster and the ball is out quicker with Mallett at QB.

Neither am I so concerned about appearances as I am about O'Briens analytical, decision making abilities, and commitment to his own decisions. His actions during the Draft, the offseason including OTAs, and preseason should indicate he was committed to Hoyer for atleast the early stage of the 2015 season which surely means more than 3 quarters. I mean even the greatest QBs have bad games, and I would have thought O'Brien would give Hoyer 2 or 3 games before he gave up on him and went to plan B unless he just flat second guessed his own decision before the first game was complete.

I agree this doesn't look great for O'Brien. I have never seen a QB change during week 1 that didn't involve injury.

But maybe O'Brien is the first coach ever who was telling the truth when he said QB is like every other position. Either way I hope the trigger is not as quick with Mallett since there is nowhere else to go.

I don't think Mallett and Hoyer are the same QB. Mallett has the arm to make the throws downfield but he is probably behind Hoyer on the quick, short throws.

Perhaps what OB saw was the Chiefs cheated up which shut down the running game and Hoyer couldn't force the issue deep. The only option, then, is to put in Mallett and hope he's accurate. Perhaps it is an overreaction to Mallett's performance in garbage time, but there is some sense in going with the guy more capable of stretching the field when you need the running game to have room to run.

If I were the head coach, I might even be willing to use Mallett in most situations then switch to Hoyer in the red zone where touch is more important than arm strength.

Mallett's throw on the two-point conversion was pretty damn good.

You know he's going to miss some short throws and you know that every once in a while he is going to do something profoundly stupid. I think you have to live with that because with no running game I don't think Hoyer is an option.

Good point, Chuck.

Hoyer doesn't have much going for him as a QB, but when he's had success, it was downfield. His best games in Cleveland were early 2013 going downfield to Jordan Cameron and Josh Gordon. He is not an accurate QB. He threw almost all short passes Sunday and still barely completed 50%.

I believe both Qbs are average at best. However, Mallet CAN be a weapon while Hoyer is simply a game manager at best. Me personally I am gambling with the weapon. He has something that other teams have to at least account for. Hoyer has nothing the defense has to account for. If you are going to be short AND not have a strong arm you'd better be deadly accurate in the short passing game. He is not.

If I'm BOB i'm taking 3 to 4 deep shots each quarter. Even if I know they're probably going to be incomplete. At least it keeps the defense honest and on its toes. While giving us enough space hopefully to run the ball.